Means for interpreting player-piano music.



s. JASSVEY. MEANS FOR INTERPRETING PLAYER PIANO MUSIC.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1911.

ll l 6 f l l l ll l Q 'lll/lll 5 Jessy UE I JE H dS LnbvZ Zar/es Sa alfbis Jflrnfe G. S. JASSEY.

MEANS FOR INTERPRBTING PLAYER PIANO MUSIC.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1911.

3. r. MJ l ww u M 1,., l a y 5. a D@ iff?. i@ w, @M 7 f `NIFITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES SCHULTZ lI'ASSEY, EDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY.

FOR INTERPRETING PLAYER-PIANO MUSIC.

To all whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SCHULTZ J'Assin', a citlzen of the `UnitedStates, residing in Edgewater,inthe county of Bergen and State of NewJersey, have inven'ted certam new and useful Improvements in Means vforInterpreting Player-Piano Music, of

vorthe like, as written by the composer or arranger. t

,The variations of tempo and tone, the two contrastln elements ofmuslcal expresslon Aare infini "'in their gradations and under theguidance of lskilled; composer or arranger these indications of linevariations may be so rintroduced upon the perforated` music rolls thatbythe aid of my' improvement, any novice'will be enabled to perfectlyreproduce the music with allthe artistic nuances of tempo and toneasoriginally written or arranged.

I am aware thatso called phrasing levers and other devices of likenature have been developedfrom time to time; these devices permit-tingthe operator to instil' into an music controlled by him merely theprincipal changes of time and tone, as arranged by the composer. It isleft to the operator to still further vary the tempo and tone (es-1pecially the time) as suggested by his own individual feeling, as towhat changes would be effective and artistic. He is guided, in

the main interpretation, by the general' markings on the music roll, butit-is permissible for him to modulate the same as he feels that it wouldprov-e effective in expressing his own ideas of interpretation. This,particularly, allows of'individuality in the playing, but in the case ofan operator not-being capable ofdeterxnining the amount of modulation byreason of a'lack of taste or education, he has no means of determiningthe composers desireddegree of modulation, as under the presentstandards of marki ings the composer cannot convey it'to him.

It is well known that every successive phrase 1n a musicalcompositionmust be fpro.-

. duced invarious shadings. of timeand tone.

` In the present standards .adopted by music roll manufacturers, this`shading. is indicated' Specification of Letters Patent.

application ined-May 5, 1911.

ning of the piece. l from the fact that the modulations of tempo,A`indicated by the markings, would include Patented July 15, 1913.A

Serial No. 625,340.

in a general way only, the detailed shadings being left to aninterpreter of more or less skilll and ability.

A further object of my inventionis the adaptability of my device forsetting and maintaining a predetermined .standard of speed, by which thetempo of the piece is mainly controlled. This speed may be adopted fromthe well known indications on a metronome oscillating bar or other likestandard. I, v

In the present standard player pianos or like devices the original tempoor time controlling the piece of music throughout is indicated at thebeginning of the roll. The operator by setting his control or tempolever' brings the indicating mechanism to a time corresponding to thatindicated on the beginning of the music roll. Upon commencing to play hethen notes the various reta-rdl and accelerating marks and'follows itthroughout as best he can by moving the said tempo levercorrespondingly, this action moving the indicator accordingly. If,however, he should release his hold or controlof this lever during theremainder of the period in which he is operating the player, the .tempowould be an entirely different one from that originally inscribedat thebegin- This condition arises any degree of retarding or acceleratingthat the performer might see fit to introduce.

In my device I set my tempo indicator at the tempo, as indicated by theindicated time signature, and-then in operatingm'y tempo control I onlyretardand accelerate from the original-setting, and if for any reason, Idesire to eliminate the tempo modulations, theA original tempo as contiolled by the indicator needle, which was set at the lndicatedtime beforecommencing to play, would then be in control and would'continue so.until the finish, in the strictv tempo indicated at the beginning ofthe piece. e t

In Fig. 8 is shown a reducedfragmentarv 4section of a well known kind ofmusic roll showing an accepted type of indications and which is thepractice generally accepted by music roll manufacturers. It will benoted thatv the two upper indications 'R and4 R, signifying retard, arein a straight line with the next expression markings T and T whichsignify a return to the original tempo controlling the piece, and belowthis 1n the same vertical line are the two characters A and A, whichsignifies acceleratel These are all, as above noted, in a straight lineand in the same relative characters there is noth fing' to indicatethat'tlie last R is of the same relative speed or of aV greater orlessen-speed. Thesame may be said ofthe characters inidicatingaccelerate and tempo. It will be seen from these markings that theysimply indicate the general term of expression, the detail to besupplied by the understanding or spirit of the operator. These sameterms or expression characters onA other music rolls are utilizedin azig-zag or sinu'ous line running.. throughout the piece1 this zigzag orsinuous arrangement, hewever, having nothing to dowith the degree of thegraduation or shading of theexpressions.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of aplayer-piano showingmy device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlargedperspective view showing the component parts of my tempo controller.Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the tempo setting needle and its mounting,showing the needle shifted to various positions along the dial. Fig. 4is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view ofV aportion of the indicator needle showing its methodof sliding attachmentto the `upper bar. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a player-pianoshowing the tracker-bar with a-music roll in positionand showing thevarious positions in which. my; impe indicator may be placed adjacent'to the music roll. f Fig. 7 is a fra entary -view of a-length of themusic roll s owin one form of t-he markings' or characters t at Iemploy. Fig. '8 is a fragmentary view of aY music roll: showing the.present method of marking expression.

`Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view ofthe .finger tablet and temposetting needle. Fig. 10 is a front view of the same` In Fig. 2 is-showna. tablet 1 which may be attached to any convenient place on theplayer-piano but preferably inor on the spool box, as shown in Fig. 6. Aparallelogram 2, is composed of four links pivoted to` gether at theiroutercorners, the upper'link 3 having slidably arranged thereon anindicator needle 4, said needle being arranged to slide for the purposeof permitting the same to be moved or set to the tempo or timecharacter, as indicated at the commencement of themusic roll, indicatedin Fig. 7, at 40.

The two short linksoi' theparallelogram '2,-

such as 5 and 6, have` pivoting holes 7 and 7' arranged atasuitable'poin't to ermit the parallelogram tooscillate to-an -fro, thuscarrying theneedle across the face ofthe indicator dial 1,'as shown inFig. 3. This movement is 'communicated by means ofa short link 8attached to the parallelogram at one end, and at the otherl beingattached toa bell crank 9 which is pivoted at 10. The

other end of this bell crank'is connected to` a short lever 11 by meansof a rod 12, suitably fixed thereto. The lever 11 is fixedltl attachedto a shaft'12 and is actuated by rocking the .finger tablet 13. At theouter end of the shaft 12. is attached a somewhat longer lever M whichactuates a short lever 15 by means of another rod 16. Lever 15;is

mounted upon. a short shaft 17 which is mounted in a suitable portion ofthe frame 18 of the instrument, and has at its opposite end a lever 19which is connected to a lever 20,`said lever 20 operating the frontAboard 21 of the bellows 22. v i

In Fig. 1 isshown a sectional view of the bellows -22.' It will be notedthat the front board 21 is connected to the air chamber 22 by means of aflexible covering of leather or like material 23, and interiorly issuitably attached a lever 24: which in turn operates a valve '25 whichcontrols the port 26 in said air chamber.l

By pressing' upon the tablet '13 and causing'it to rock on either side,the board 21 is caused to moveI inor ,out and simultaneously the needleis caused to move across the face of the tablet 1. By roper adjustment,

the characters on the ta let. can be so 'arranged as to indicate thevamount of control or throttlingI of the valve 25thatA is caused by theaction of the outer board 21.

As a means for indicating Athe before mentioned degree ofaccelerating'and retarding, I have here shown the characters inarithmetical progression running from 0 to 90, and as each of thesecharacters-represents a certain amount of closure of the valve 25,relatively more or less, it,can be seen that by placing these characterson a music roll, preferably on the right' handside, that the y degree ofvariationof the tempo from one phrase to the succeeding phrase can bendicated in precise value, as indicated in Fig. 7. It will be noted thatthe tempo of the roll in Fig. 7 is 50, and that the row of' figures atAthe right hand sidel which expresses the values of the erases areindicated by figures similar to t oseon the tablet 1 and that thedifference in the tempo of these phrases is precisely expressed. Ascompared with the markin s in Fig. 8 it can be seen that nothing is le ttothe; operator in my present improved form of marking, for, as hereinbeore stated, the precise amount of regulation is indicated by my imiooproved means and is u'nder the control of the o rater. .l

In i 6 I have Shown another form of tablet wi erein the tracker-har 41has an intta playing,r of the the tempo control, such as 5() indicatedin Fig. 7. This device comprises a needle 23 having a lower platformextension 30. In Fig. 10 this platform is shown as having considerable,width for the purpose of supporting two springs 31 and which arearranged on said platform and underneath the opposite ends of the lingertablet 13. A sleeve 29, which may be driven into a convenient portion ofthe rail or key-board support and having a head 33 on its opposite end,clamps and carries the needle 28. The inside of the needle is in contactwith a soft washer 34 which may be of leather or feluand similarly awasher 3G is in engagement between the head 33 and the needle 2S. Thisconstruction is used so as to create a friction between the needle 28and itsftixed 'bearingr member 29 and cause it to be held to anyadjusted position, which position is held throughout the playing of thepiece for which'it is set. A dial 37 having characters slmilar to thoseof the tablet 1, Fig. 3, is arranged so that the .needle will be inopposition thereto. When the needle 28 is shifted about. its axis to setthe tempo control to any desired number its delwnding platform 30 willalso be swung therewith. This in turn causes the two Springs 31 and 32to force the finger tablet 13 which is fixedly mounted on the rockershaft 12 to be moved the same amount. It is obvious that this movementwill be then transmitted by the tablet 13 through the system of links tothe parallelog'ram 2 and to the valve 25, thereby controlling the speedof the operating mechanism. The needle 4 ou the parab lelogram Fig. 2,is then shifted thereon so t' t the character it indicatesis the same as...t indicated by the tempo needle 28. 'Vins needle 4 is the only onethat operates across the dial during lthe playing of the piece. lt isclear from the foregoing that any variation by the lingers on the fingertablet 13 will cause the tempo control of the 'mechanism throughout tooperate to retard or accelerate accordingly as the valve 25 is opened orclosed, and this movement will be indicated by the said needle. Shouldthe `operator during the manipulation of the instrument release controlof the linger tablet 13, the springs resting upon the platform 30 of thefixed needle 28 would immediately bring the tablet 13 back to itspre-set position, thereby holdingJr the valve in one position andsetting the mechanism to control the further playing of the piece instrict tempo. This'action is caused by the frio tionally held needle 28,which. throughout Y piecel maintains its set position. and through thesprings 31 and 32 resting upon its platform 30, causes 'the tablet 13 toassume to. therebyY setting' the linkage that controls the indicatorneedle 4 and the valve 25.

i l l i a parallel position there l l i 'by the operation of thell'aving thus described my inwntiou, I claim:

1. ln a nimhanical nnlsical instrument, the combination with a musicroll and actuating; mechanism therefor.y of a yspeed con trol for theactuating mechanism, means for shift-ingr the speed control, means forretaining the speed controlv `-in said shifted position, an operativemember comprising a'plate pivoted at its intermediate portion andadapted to be engaged on one face to be oscillated by the operator, saidmember being connected with the speed control means to shift it. fromsaid pre-set position, and means for returning the said speed controlmember and manually operated member automatically to the pre-setposition when released.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a music rolland actuating' mechanism therefor, of a speed control for the actuatingmechanism, means for shifting the speed control, means-forfretaining thespeed control in said shifted position, an operative member comprising aplate pivoted at its intermediate portion and adapted to be engaged onone face to be oscillated by the operator, said member being connectedwith the. speed-controlmeans to shift it from said pre-set position,means for returning the said speed -controlmeniber and manually operatedmember automatically to the preset position when released, an indicatoron the instrument, and a pointer mounted to move across the indi caterand operatively connected with the said controlling device to be shiftedaccording to the m vement of the said manually operative member.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a music rolland actuating mechanism therefor, of a speed control for the actuatingmechanism, means for shiftingr the speed control, means for re,-taining' the spoed control in said. shifted position, an operativemember connected with the speed cont-rol means to shift it from saidpre-set positions, means for returning the said speed control member andsaid operative meml:er automatically to the preset positionswiieii,rel'eased, a pair of levers each pivoted at an intermediateportion, a link connecting one end of each ot' the levers, a linkconnecting the other end f each of the levers and of equal length withsaid link to form a movable parallelogram, means connecting one of saidlevers with the manually controlled member, a tableton the instrument.Jand a, pointer on the link that. is shifted along the tablet by themovement of the link to indicate l 'i change of tempo manuallylcontrolled member.

Il. In a mechanical musi the combination with a music roll iiinstrnncnt. ami means v`of the shaft between including a rock shaft, anarm mounted by its intermediate portion loose on the rock shaft, apointer carried by said arm, a tablet having indications arranged toindicate the position of the arm, frictional means for holding thepointer and arm in adjusted l positions, a cross arm secured at itsintermediate portion to said shaft to rock the shaft and arranged inproximity to said arm, and a pair of springs one on each side of theshaft between the respective ends of said armsand arranged to retain thearms parallel whereby when the said arm secured to the shaft has beenswung by the operator to shift the shaft and controlling means connectedtherewith in either direction to vary the tempo faster or slower fromany given set position of the other arm and pointer said springs willreturn the arm and shaft to set position when released, a second pointerthat is connected with the speed control and actuated thereby, and atablet over which the latter pointer .moves to indicate the tempo atwhich the control is set.

CHARLES SCHULTZ JASSEY.

Witnesses:

.JOHN MQRRIS,

ALFRED W. MARTIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

for actuating the roll, of a control for the l actuating means toregulate the tempo, manually operative means for said member including arock shaft, an arm mounted by its intermediate portion loose on the rockshaft, a pointer carried by said arm, a tablet having indicationsarranged to indicate the position of the arm, frictional means forholding the pointer and arm in adjusted positions, a cross arm securedat its intermediate portion to said shaft to rock the shaft and arrangedin proximity to said arm, and a pair of springs one on each side therespective ends of said arms and arranged to retain the arms parallelwhereby when the said arm secured to the shaft has been swung by theoperator to shift the shaft and controlling means connected therewith ineither direction tovary the tempo faster or slower from any given setposition of the other arm and pointer said springs will return the armand shaft to set position when released.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a music rolland means for actuating the roll, of a control for the actuating meansto regulate the tempo, manually operative means for said member Copiesof this patent may be obtained for Commissioner of Patents,

